Dianthus plant named ‘Sangria Splash’

ABSTRACT

The new and distinct cultivar of perennial Carnation or Pinks,  Dianthus  plant named ‘Sangria Splash’ with long-blooming, fragrant, single flowers, with petals that begin deep red with fuchsia spots and then becomes lighter in both the center petal portion and the margin portion.  Dianthus  ‘Sangria Splash’ is tolerant of high temperatures and resists center die-out.

Botanical denomination: Dianthus hybrid.

Cultivar designation: ‘Sangria Splash’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the new and distinct cultivar of Dianthus or Pinks from the genus Dianthus and given the cultivar name ‘Sangria Splash’. The new plant was the result of an intentional cross in May of 2006 by Kevin A. Hurd between Dianthuis gratianopolitanus ‘Feuerhexe’ also known as ‘Firewitch’, (not patented) as the seed parent and ‘Devon Siskin’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,377 (more often known as ‘Raspberry Swirl’) as the pollen parent. The new hybrid was first isolated from trials at a nursery in Zeeland, Mich. during the summer of 2007. Dianthus ‘Sangria Splash’ has been asexually propagated at the same nursery in Zeeland, Mich. using traditional shoot tip cutting procedures and found to reproduce plants that are identical and exhibit all the characteristics of the original plant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment including: growing temperature, available sunlight, nutrients, water, etc. without a change in the genotype of the plant. The new plant is distinct from its parents and all other Dianthus known to the applicant in the following combined traits:

-   -   1. Flat, single, overlapping petals of fuchsia pink with crimson         and pink.     -   2. Unique floral color pattern.     -   3. High heat tolerance.     -   4. Floriferous habit.     -   5. Vigorous growth and excellent habit.     -   6. Compact, fine-textured, blue-green foliage.

Cultivar Comparison Table Plant height Flower Flower Flower Petal Petal in Cultivar color pattern size margin # flower ‘Apple Slice’ pink dark wine 4.5 cm dark 20 to 22 cm application No. edge and wine 24 12/462,743 rim margin ‘Black Cherry bur- solid 4.0 cm light 16 to 22 cm Wild’ gundy rose 20 application No. margin 12/462,742 ‘Coconut white burgundy 3.5 cm reddish 14 to 28 cm Punch’ edge with purple 30 application No. white rim margin 12/462,744 ‘Double bur- white 4.0 cm white 15 to 17 to Spotty’ gundy picotee 20 30 cm U.S. Plant Pat. edge and No. 13,884 white spots ‘Dragon Fruit’ fuchsia red jag- 3.5 cm self 14 to 20 cm application No. pink ged 22 12/462,745 purple bar ‘Pomegranate bur- irregular 3.2 cm irregular 16 to 16 cm Kiss’ gundy pink pink 22 application No. splashing splash- 12/462,746 on margin ing or center ‘Cranberry Ice’ pink dark wine 3.3 cm dark 5 20 to U.S. Plant Pat. edge and wine 25 cm No. 18,342 rim margin ‘Devon Siskin’ light magenta 4.0 cm magenta 5 10 cm U.S. Plant Pat. pink edge with edge No. 14,377 burgundy base ‘Feuerhexe’ pink solid 4.0 cm self 5 10 to (not patented) 12 cm ‘Devon Xera’ red crimson 3.0 cm self 5 15 to U.S. Plant Pat. eye 20 cm No.14,895 Red Dwarf’ red crimson 3.5 cm self 5 20 to U.S. Plant Pat. eye 25 cm No. 14,437 ‘Sangria fuchsia crimson 3.0 cm crimson 5 30 cm Splash’ pink ring with with application No. pink pink 12/462,741 splashing splash- and center ing ‘Spangled Star’ scarlet small 4.0 cm white 5 17 to U.S. Plant Pat. red white picotee 22 cm No. 13,029 spots and edge white picotee edge

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The photographs of the new invention demonstrate the overall appearance of the plant including the unique traits. The colors are as accurate as reasonably possible with color reproductions. Some slight variation of color may occur as a result of lighting quality, intensity, wavelength, direction or reflection.

FIG. 1 shows the new plant at two-years of age in flower.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the flower and bud.

FIG. 3 shows the dissected flower of the new plant together with capsule and seeds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description of the new plant is based on observations of several two-year old plants in open-field, full-sun conditions in Zeeland, Mich. with supplemental watering, light additions of fertilizer and free of other plant growth regulators. All color usage is in reference to the 2001 edition of The Royal Horticultural Colour Chart except where common dictionary terms are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dianthus hybrid. -   Parentage: ‘Feuerhexe’ (female) times ‘Raspberry Swirl’ male parent. -   Plant description:     -   -   Habit.—Cespitose, herbaceous, evergreen perennial; stems             proximally branched, erect; height of foliage about 18 cm             and 42 cm across; height in flower is about 30 cm; Root             system; fibrous. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf type.—Simple, linear, opposite, decussate, sessile,             glabrous, glaucous on adaxial and abaxial; acute apex; base             decurrent, adpressed along stem and somewhat perfoliate; no             fragrance detected.         -   Leaf dimensions.—About 7.0 cm long and 2.0 mm wide.         -   Leaf color.—Nearest RHS 122B adaxial and abaxial sides.         -   Venation.—Finely reticulate, coloration same as that of leaf             top and bottom.         -   Stems.—Erect to arching, terete, glabrous, glaucous,             proximally branching at 2 to 3 nodes.         -   Stem size.—About 30 cm long and 2 mm wide at base.         -   Stem color.—Nearest RHS 122B.         -   Branching.—Numerous from lower leaf axils; about 200 per             plant.         -   Nodes.—3 mm across, RHS N122C.         -   Internodes.—6.5 cm apart. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Terminal, cymose, erect, symmetrical.         -   Dimension.—About 2.5 cm across and extending about 7 mm             above calyx.         -   Flowers per stem.—4 to 5.         -   Pedicel.—Glaucous, glabrous, terete.         -   Pedicel size.—Usually 2 cm long and 2 mm diameter.         -   Pedicel color.—Nearest RHS 122A. -   Flowers:     -   -   Type.—Salviform, completely double, symmetrical.         -   Dimension.—About 3.0 cm across and extending about 1.3 cm             above calyx.         -   Flower bud shape.—Rhomboid to terete.         -   Flower bud size one day prior to opening.—About 2.2 cm long             and 0.5 cm wide.         -   Flower bud color.—Glaucous, between RHS N138C and RHS N138D,             heavily pigmented with anthocyanin between RHS 187B and RHS             N187B.         -   Flower period.—Beginning late May and flowering until frost             in the fall with a short 2 week rest after the initial bust.         -   Flower fragrance.—Light, sweet spicy, clove-like.         -   Flower lasting quality.—About five days on or off the plant.         -   Petals.—5, consisting of a rounded blade or limb and a claw             (enclosed completely within the calyx), obovate, apex             dentate with dentations 1 mm deep, bearded with minute hairs             mostly on the center of the adaxial surface, bent outwardly             to nearly a ninety degree angle.         -   Petal color.—Petal limb base adaxial side between RHS N79B             and RHS N79C with one or two irregular spots of RHS N74A;             abaxial side limb nearest RHS N80C; adaxial slide of petal             limb lightens to between RHS 73B and RHS 73C with base             nearest RHS 64B; claw consistent RHS 145B on both sides with             a 2 to 3 mm band of white lighter than RHS 150D on both             adaxial and abaxial sides next to limb.         -   Dimension.—2.8 cm long including claw and limb; petal limb             to 1.5 cm across and 1.4 cm long; claws 1.3 cm long and 2 mm             to 4 mm wide about 3 mm from limb.         -   Calyx.—Glabrous, glaucous, five-toothed corolla tube fused             in proximal 1.6 cm; about 2.0 cm long and 0.5 cm in             diameter; between RHS N138C and RHS N138D, heavily pigmented             with anthocyanin between RHS 187B and RHS N187B.         -   Peduncle.—Glabrous, glaucous, terete, 22 cm long and 2 mm             diameter at base; RHS N138D.         -   Bracts.—Two, opposite, broadly obtuse with rounded apex,             about 7 mm long and 7 mm wide; RHS 141A in the center,             lighter than RHS 138D at base and margins.         -   Bracteoles.—Two, opposite, lanceolate, sharply acute apex,             bases joined at stem; about 10 mm long and 2 mm wide;             glaucous, RHS 141A at apex and center, lighter than RHS 138D             at base and margins.         -   Androecium.—Stamens usually 10, filaments variable in length             from 1.6 to 2.0 cm long, less than 1 mm diameter; pale green             lighter than RHS 11D; anther oblong to 3.0 mm long and 1.0             mm wide, nearest RHS195C; pollen color RHS 11D.         -   Gynoecium.—Style split in two above ovary, pistil 1.6 cm             long and about 1 mm diameter, lighter than RHS 11D except             for distal 4 mm which are gradually darken to RHS 76C;             stigma RHS 77C.         -   Ovary.—Superior, spindle-shaped; 8 mm long and 2.5 mm wide;             RHS 145A at distal end and between RHS 145 D and RHS 145 C             at proximal end. -   Seed: 20 to 56, blackish brown darker than RHS 200A, shield-shaped,     dorsiventrally compressed, about 3.0 mm across and 0.5 mm thick. -   Capsule: Ovoid to cylindrical, opening by 4 teeth, about 2 cm long     and 8.5 mm diameter, between RHS 197B and RHS 197 C. -   Comparison varieties: The new plant is distinct from its parents and     all other dianthus known to the inventor in that the new plant has     single flowers unlike ‘Double Spotty’, has petals that begin deep     red with fuchsia spots and then becomes lighter in both the center     petal portion and the margin portion. The nearest comparison plant     would be ‘Cranberry Ice’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,342 which has     similar base colored petals but without the rose pink splashing. The     new plant also has deeper dentations in the petals than co-pending     application Ser. No. 12/462,742 ‘Black Cherry Wild’. -   Disease resistance: The new plant is resistance to center die out     from fungus or high temperatures. The plant grows best with adequate     moisture and well-drained soil, but is able to tolerate high     temperatures and some drought once established. Hardiness at least     from USDA zone 4 through zone 9. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of perennial Carnation or Pinks, Dianthus plant named ‘Sangria Splash’ as herein described and illustrated, with long-blooming, fragrant, single flowers, petals that begin deep red with fuchsia spots and then becomes lighter in both the center petal portion and the margin portion, tolerant of high temperatures, resists center die-out and suitable as a garden ornamental, potted plant and for cut flower arrangements. 